Chapter 6: Light After Darkness

Sanzo looked at the sunrise, feeling very glum. The others looked at him worriedly. He had not shown any emotion after they had left Yuuki with Homura. By his own order. They knew it was useless, trying to cheer him up. This time the Jeep seemed empty and hollow, without the usual insults.

Suddenly, Hakkai stepped on the brakes. HARD. Gojou and Goku were nearly thrown out. "Why did you do that, Hakkai" Goku complained. "Sumimasen, but it seems there is someone in front." "Just knock that person over," Sanzo said listlessly. "Aa...aah..." Hakkai said.

The figure became prominent. "YUUKI!" Gojou and Goku yelled. "You`re back!" They jumped out and danced with her. "Yeah, how`ve you guys been!" she exclaimed. "Hello, Hakkai." Hakkai waved at her.

"Genjo-sama, I`m sorry... about yesterday. I shouldn`t have gone to Homura." Yuuki apologised. She walked towards him.

"Stop where you are. Show your true form. I`m not in the mood to play," Sanzo said."Sanzo!" the other three cried.

Yuuki, who was standing nearby smiled a cunning smile. "You are very smart Sanzo-sama, being able to detect my fine disguise in a moment." "HAH?!" The other three exclaimed again.

"Che, you don`t sound like that bitch at all."

"Of course. You would know better." With that she disappeared in a cloud, and when that cloud dispersed, she showed her true self. Long brown hair in soft curls reached her feet, with a striking porcelain complexion, and big blue eyes. The other three`s eyes popped out further.

" I am the Goddess of Wealth, the half sister of the Goddess of Love, Ai...no I should say Yuuki."

"Leave me alone. Don`t Heaven have anything better to do, sending down one goddess after another."

"Why you.....! Aah, but the famous Sanzo`s always acted like that, I won`t take it to heart."

" Go away!" Sanzo fired a few shots, which of course couldn`t do the Goddess any harm.

Suddenly, Hakkai turned and saw another figure. "Yuuki! Is that you?" he exclaimed. "Aah, are you you this time or what?" Gojou looked curiously.

"Get in. Hakkai, drive now." was all she said.

Sanzo, who was really bored, hopped in and the rest followed suit, leaving the Goddess of Wealth in dust. "Why... you.... you !" She sputtered. "Bye bye! I`d love to know you better... next time!" Gojou called out.

They stopped outside an inn. Yuuki went in, and ordered "The best sake you got" and drank them one after another. They all sat around her, staring in surprise.

"Well, well look here, Goddess of Love, are you supposed to drink sake?" said Gojou in a half attempt to amuse her. She took no notice of him.

" You`d better pay for yourself," Sanzo said. She ignored him, but drank the sake faster and more.

Meanwhile, Homura was in a state of self regret. He wandered listlessly around the demon palace. Shien and Zeon looked at him worriedly. " Is he going crazy?" Zeon whispered. "No." Shien said. Suddenly, he perked up and stared outside. "Something`s coming." Just then, several balls of light flew down and as they touched the floor, turned into solid forms. The biggest one, touched Homura`s throne and turned into... Kami-sama!

Homura turned, his face expressionless.

"Homura Taishi, you have not done what is required of you this time. You were supposed to destroy what the Goddess of Love did. Are you ready to receive your sentence?" Kami-sama said.

"NO! Homura!" Zeon shouted. The immense soldiers swarmed upon him and he took out his machine gun, ready to blast them. But Shien nudged him and shook his head. Zeon, put down the gun, shaking with anger.

"I`m ready to receive it. I won`t be played by you all now. My life is mine, and mine alone," said Homura.

"Hahaha! He actually thinks so! Well Homura you are wrong!" The gods that arrived burst out laughing. Homura just kneeled down.

"First Homura Taishi, you will be tortured. Then you will be banished to be a mere human on Earth, meaning you will no more hold the title "Taishi."

Homura smiled. "So you`ve found another unclean person. That`s good. I pity him."

"Begin his sentence!" Kami-sama ordered.

Homura suddenly had extra chains and shackles, around his hands and legs. As the whips were raised, he looked up and smiled.

"Straight Flush! I win!" Gojou crowed. "Finally!" He slammed his cards on the table. The others sighed. "Goddess of Wealth is on my side! Thank you!" He looked up mockly praying.

Suddenly, Yuuki choked on her sake, causing her to spit all over Sanzo. He jumped up irritably, "What`s wrong with you?"

"Homura! He`s in danger ! I can feel it!" Yuuki closed her eyes.

"I have to go."

" Bye bye." Sanzo answered.

"But you are all coming with me."

"Matte....!"

They all disappeared in a flash of light.

"Slash!" The whip whipped over Homura`s back for the 30th time. Homura bent down, his power weakening. "At the 55th time, you will be a mere human." The words rung in his head, but he was unable to stop his self regret. Maybe this is the best thing, he thought, forget about everything, release myself from this pain.

When the whip was about to slash across Homura`s back for the 50th time, a ball of bright light appeared. Ai appeared with Sanzo-tachi.

"Homura!" she cried. She ran over to Homura, and lay herself on him. The whip, whipped her instead, having no artificial intelligence except to do what it was programmed to do.

Homura looked up, surprise, shock and hopefulness covering his face.

"I`ll never leave you again! Never! I love you! I LOVE YOU!" Ai cried, while the whip whipped her endlessly.

Homura balled his fists, and with his renewed power, easily broke the chains and shackles that held him. He hugged Ai.

"STOP THE WHIP!" Kami-sama ordered.

"You really mean that? I`m... forgiven...!?" He whispered hoarsely.

"Yes! I`m sorry I acted like a beast!" Tears falling down her face, she hugged him. "I won`t leave you, I won`t!"

Sanzo and the rest stared. Then Kanzeon stepped out.

"Make the decision now, Kami-sama."

Kami-sama stared hard at his daughter.

"Daddy, I want to be with him. He's all I want. Please Daddy." And she stared at him beseechingly.

Kami-sama sighed. He wasn't a cruel person after all. He just wanted everyone to be happy, but it seemed the other gods were always unsatisfied. In his order to try to please everyone, he pleased no one.

" The Goddess of Love will be with the God of War, just as the Matchmaker prophesied. Their destinies are intertwined, that I cannot mess around too. And, from now on, " With that he glanced at his daughter lovingly, "Any child of mixed parentage of god and human will not be outcasts. They are on the same level as the pure gods. It is not fair to judge by the physical appearance. And, contrary to everyone`s thinking, the God of War is no longer a forsaken task. We will now only watch over humans this time, as we should have done long ago. No god is now allowed to disturb humans, but only to witness their doings, as Kanzeon-sama puts it."

Ai glanced happily at her father. They could be together now, she and Homura. She looked at Homura, only to see his loving eyes stare back down at her. They kissed each other, passionately, long, and hard.

The whole palace erupted in cheers and applause. Yes, this pairing was the best there was. A perfect balance. Between love and war.

"Eh-ahem. We shall go now, if you please," Sanzo turned.

" Genjo Sanzo, wait. You are the one given the task of going to the west to stop the resurrection of Gyumaoh, is it not?"

" I`m wondering why you all can`t do it yourselves, since you're all so bored up in Heaven."

Kami-sama laughed. "You are as funny as Kanzeon says. Now, we have certain rules up in Heaven to abide to. All we can do now is give you our blessings. Go now, and do not fail us."

"Che."
Kami-sama sent Sanzo-tachi back to where they came from.

"And now, Ai and Homura, you are both officially elected as the guardians to look over Sanzo and the rest. But don`t overdo it, " He cautioned as Ai looked overjoyed.

After the commotion and celebrations ended, the gods all went back to Heaven.

In the Heavenly Palace, with Kanzeon by his side, Kami-sama commented, " After this journey, they will surely be reincarnated back to who they were in the past. As Konzen Daiji, Kenren and Tenpau, the gods."

"I`m sure that will be a day to look forward to, " said Kanzeon.